The Gospel Of Repentance

                                                               Proverbs tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Prov 1:9). What does it mean to fear God? The word fear in our culture is a negative. For instance, the word of God tells us God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7) So why is fearing God a good thing, a virtue? A healthy fear [1] of God is acknowledging that 1) He exists, that he is real.  2) We need to fear God for his majesty, there is none like him in all the universe. 3) We need to fear God for his power. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. 4) We need to fear God for his provision, that he meets our needs. 5) We need to be afraid of God when we sin for we displease him. We ne...

If you can get to know someone well you learn things about them, perhaps you learn what their favorite color is, their favorite food, what type of music they enjoy, etc. From there the relationship usually goes into the area of religion and politics. Two things people say we are not to ever discuss. Ironically, it is the two things we probably discuss the most. For this article, I want to discuss religion and worldviews. If you ask a person if they believe they deserve to go to heaven, most would say, “Yeah!” When you ask them why the general response would be, “Because I am a good person.” Many give to the poor, feed the hungry at the mission centers. Counseled those who have abused alcohol and drugs. Demonstrated through marches and protests for equal rights for all people through the doctrine of civil disobedience and the benevolent deeds go on and on. These things humanly make our souls feel clean and free wouldn’t you agree? But, is man actually good? Who determines if...

Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.”     Genesis 1:26 There are misconceptions about what it means to be made in God’s image. Some believe it to mean we as humans are “gods”, or can become “gods”. That is a gross error. Humans can and will never be gods. Not in this life, nor in the life to come. Even in mythology gods are immortal which human beings are not; we do eventually die. So, what does it mean to be made in God’s image and likeness? How is man like God? The word image in Hebrew is tseh’-lem which means a phantom, resemblance, representative figure.      The word likeness in the Hebrew is de-mooth which means model, shape, fashion, similitude. Scripture tells us that God the Father is a Spirit (John 4:24). That is one way we are in God’s image because we are spirits as well within a physical body. Other ways we are image bearers is that we have will, emotions, we can make choic...

There are numerous places in the Bible where it appears God changes his mind, but that is against what scripture teaches us. Malachi 3:6 tells us the Lord does not change. Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever. That should bring tremendous relief to us as believers. Why? Because all the promises of God will remain true forever. Now, I want to look at some accounts where it “appears” God has changed his mind and try my best to explain the text we are examining. In Genesis 6:5-7 we read that “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (emphasis added). And the Lord regretted or was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the earth, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them” . W...

Therein lies an interesting question. We know that because of Saul’s disobedience in not utterly wiping out the Amalekites he was rejected as king of Israel (1 Sam 15:26). We read in the same chapter that God declares to Samuel that he “regretted that he made Saul king for he has turned from following me” (vs. 10). Didn’t God know Saul would rebel before he chose him as king? Yes. The answer is because God wanted to. Saul despite his wickedness Saul was God’s anointed (1 Sam 24:6).  God made a sovereign choice although it caused the Lord grief when Saul turned his heart away from the Lord. It is very important to understand that when God said he regretted or was sorry he chose Saul as king over Israel, he didn’t change his mind regarding his choosing as some may think when reading this text. Rather, God was sorry for the wickedness of Saul manifested in his persistent disobedience of the Lord’s commands. How can a leader who is a minister of God (whether they know it or n...

I recently had the privilege of reading two books. The first book the author referred to himself as a “Moderate Calvinist”. He believes in an unlimited atonement. As a reminder, those that believe and teach and unlimited atonement position believe that when Jesus died on the cross, he atoned for the sins of everyone that will ever live for all time. No one is left out. The second book is a rebuttal against the first one. [1] The author of the second book states that the atonement of Christ is limited to the elect or chosen by God before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). Both views are compelling, and both appear to be supported by scripture. But, which view is correct, the unlimited view or the limited view? If you believe that Christ died for all men for all time, then you by default believe that he knowingly died for those who will go to hell and pay the penalty for their own sins for eternity. I said numerous times that that is a form of double jeopardy. Also in th...

What is the difference between our will and God’s? Man has free will, but due to our sinful nature, our will is imprisoned by wickedness. As a result, our will is also in bondage. Sounds like double talk? It is not. Let me explain. The ability to choose is freedom. But because of our internal corruption, our choices never are totally pure. Man’s will was perfect before the fall of Adam. God’s will on the other hand is autonomous – meaning it is completely pure and free all the time. God is completely sovereign and has a will that is absolute. God’s will is so perfect that we cannot fully comprehend it.                                            In Isaiah 55:8-9 we read, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are my ways your ways”, says the Lord. “For as the heavens are...

I want to make a comparison with an excerpt from the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution and the Scripture.               “nor shall any person be subject to the same offence to twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” Why did I use this excerpt? Because it protects one from being prosecuted for the same crime once one has been acquitted of it in a court of law. Also, once someone has been forgiven of sin after they genuinely repent, and exercise belief in the completed work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross, they can never be condemned for their sins again; neither in this life nor in the life to come. To believe or teach that a person can lose their salvation after they have obtained it is unbiblical. Yet many Christians sadly believe and teach this heretical doctrine. The ramifications of one truly saved losing their salvation and going to hell is enormous. 1.        It ...

In Isaiah 45:7 we read, “I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create evil. I the Lord do all these things.” So, why in the world would the prophet make such a statement like this? Why would God be responsible for creating evil when He is good and His mercy endures forever (Psalm 136)? One must conclude that if God created evil, then He must 1) be evil Himself. And 2), He cannot condemn man for the evil he does since God created it. And 3) Evil must be good. As always when reading any passage in scripture, context is the key. The word evil in Hebrew is the word Ra . It has multiple meanings such as hurt, ill, pain, harm, sorrow, mischief, affliction, misery, and calamity. It appears 663 times in the King James Bible (KJV). 431 times it is translated evil. The word evil also appears in the New American Standard Bible version (ASV). A more accurate rendering of the word evil in the above verse is calamity. God is the creator of calamity. The proph...

“Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” -           Matthew 11:28-30 To really grasp the import of Jesus’ invitation to come to Him, we need to read the three preceding verses. They read like this, At that time Jesus said, “I praise You Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Matt 11:25-27). These verses clearly explain that all authority has been given to Jesus from the Father; particularly i...

Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, In what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this says the Lord of hosts If I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing that there will not be room for you to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field says the Lord  -  Malachi 3:8-11   Everyone in the church knows these verses, and many can quote them word for word. These are the premiere verses used to explain the tithe, and why many preachers and parishioners believe we are obligated to “pay” it. I will submit to the reader that these verses have been grossly taken out of context – totally divorced of their original mea...